Salvador Carnival: Brazil’s largest popular festival Celebrating Carnival in Salvador is a unique experience. The Salvador Carnival is one of the biggest popular festivals in Brazil, very well organised and attracting more than 2.5 million revellers to the streets of Salvador. The joy of Bahia “Ah! Imagine, what a crazy […]
Pelourinho: A Historical Heritage in Bahia Pelourinho is the name of a neighbourhood in the historic centre of the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia. This neighbourhood has a well-preserved Portuguese Baroque colonial architectural complex, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Architectural Complex The architectural, landscape […]
The history of the founding of Salvador, Bahia, began as a fortified city, or at least that was the intention of King João III of Portugal. As the capital or “head” of Brazil, its defence was a constant concern. The prominence of the fortifications in the landscape of the city […]
Historic Centre of Salvador The city of Salvador was founded in 1549 by Tomé de Souza. Most of the large buildings began to be built in 1624, after the wars against the Dutch. Historical importance The historic centre of Salvador is extremely rich in historic monuments dating from the 17th […]
The history of Bahia began with the arrival of the Portuguese in Porto Seguro and continued with Colonisation, Empire and Republic. The official history of Brazil began in Bahia; history records that the discoverer, Pedro Álvares Cabral, landed on the coast of the region where Porto Seguro is now located, […]
Diogo Álvares Correia, better known as Caramuru, is a central figure in the secret history of Salvador, Bahia. There are hidden historical fragments in the heart of the city. They are hidden stories that sleep before our eyes, on street corners, in streets, in squares and in urban monuments. The […]
The Church of São Pedro dos Clérigos, located in the historic centre of Salvador, is a masterpiece of Brazilian Colonial Baroque architecture, built between 1709 and 1733. Built by the Brotherhood of São Pedro dos Clérigos, made up of members of the secular clergy, the church was designed to meet […]
Salvador, Brazil’s first capital, is a city marked by its rich history, vibrant culture and impressive architecture. Salvador’s tourist attractions and architectural heritage reflect the diversity of influences that have shaped the city over the centuries, from Portuguese colonisation to its Afro-Brazilian heritage. Salvador has countless tourist attractions, architectural heritage, […]
Tourism in Bahia is characterised by the fact that the state is one of the most important tourist centres in Brazil. Bahia has an immense variety of landscapes, cultural traditions and attractions, allowing it to be divided into tourist areas, each with a name characteristic of its main physical and […]
Iemanjá, thousands of Bahians and tourists flock to the beaches of Rio Vermelho in Salvador every year on 2 February. The goddess Iemanjá Iyemanjá, Yemanjá, Yemaya, Iemoja or Yemoja is an African orisha whose name derives from the Yoruba expression “Yèyé omo ejá” (“Mother whose children are fish”). Identified in […]
The Baiana costume: A cultural expression The costume worn by baianas, often called baiano, reflects the influence of African culture in Brazil, combined with the swaying hips and swaying gait characteristic of samba. Traditional Baiana costume The traditional costume of the baiana is a set of traditional clothes and is […]
Acarajé: An expression of Afro-Brazilian tradition Much more than just a dish from Bahian cuisine, acarajé is a true expression of the rich Afro-Brazilian tradition. With roots in Africa, this delicacy symbolises the fusion of cultures and the resilience of Afro-descendant communities over the centuries. Street vendors in Salvador Sold […]
To populate the deserted Atlantic Ocean islands discovered in the 15th century, such as Madeira, Porto Santo, the Azores, Cape Verde and São Tomé,
Context and controversy Several authors have debated the similarities and differences between the Hereditary Captaincies and medieval feudalism,
Hereditary Captaincies in the 16th Century: Background to their Creation Despite being a small country with limited resources, Portugal distinguished
The return of Martim Afonso de Sousa to Portugal A brief account of Martim Afonso’s return to Portugal after completing his work in São
Martim Afonso’s voyage to Brazil (1530–1532) and Pero Lopes’ return to Portugal. The expedition led by Martim Afonso de Sousa to Brazil
Olinda was the birthplace of Franciscanism in Portuguese America, as well as being the starting point for the expansion of convents in
Martim Afonso de Sousa’s voyage to Brazil was a maritime expedition involving military, exploratory and colonising activities along the coast
Located a few kilometres between Pipa and Baía Formosa, Sibaúma is a pristine coastal village in Rio Grande do Norte. It is the perfect destination
Praia dos Carneiros is a photogenic beach located about an hour from Recife. Just a few kilometres from Recife, the beach of Praia dos Carneiros in
Discover the best beaches in the northeast for relaxation, with three perfect getaways offering stunning scenery, high-end accommodation and
To understand frevo is to reconstruct the history of Recife’s working classes and the city’s urban development between the late 19th and
According to many scholars, music and dance have been part of Brazilian culture since its inception, providing an outlet for the tensions arising
The expedition of Martim Afonso de Sousa: towards the colonisation of Brazil. Martim Afonso de Sousa came from one of the most notable families in
The colonising expedition led by Martim Afonso de Sousa and sent by the King of Portugal in 1530 was the first official attempt at permanently
From the start of the 16th century until its midpoint, the Brazilian coast saw frequent passages and incursions by Spanish navigators, either en
European interest in and conflict over Brazilwood in the 16th and 17th centuries. This chapter examines the exploitation and trade of Brazilwood
The Portuguese expedition to Brazil in 1503: discoveries, controversies and developments. Several printed and handwritten sources from the early
The captains of Pedro Álvares Cabral’s fleet proposed sending an expedition to explore the new land further. In 1501, King Manuel accepted the
The Portuguese intention behind Cabral’s discovery of Brazil. Some historians debate whether it was Spanish sailors or the Portuguese who first
Although the Spanish navigator Vicente Yánez Pinzón is considered to have discovered Brazil first, according to the Treaty of Tordesillas, the
